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This 10 weeks with blogger has been great....but alas it does not provide all the little intricacies that a fab fashion blog needs...like free Getty Images! Sorry Blogger baby! I'm OUT!


Check us out now at stepuptrinistyle.onsugar.com

Accessories at FWTT

Sooo in between the countless face masks (both medical and man- i mean, masquerade), the shutter shades, the pallet stick headpieces, the foot ribbon-shoe representations, the hats and the headwraps, Fashion Week TT did yield some truly innovative accessories (if you looked close enough).

Personally, I thought the most stunning element in Peter Elias' collection were the vibrantly coloured multi-layered woven and beaded necklaces that he paired his pieces with. They seem to me to be a fresh take on the embellished sequin and diamante embellished neckline tops and dresses that have become staples of our wardrobes.

These necklaces make such a statement that they would be perfect to dress up a wife-beater skinny jeans uniform when you not feeling to put together an "outfit" but still want all eyes on you.

Elaborate corset and waist belts, still so popular were also adopted by the fashion week designers, becoming re-imagined in bright colours, or ethnic prints. I know I don't need to provide suggestions on how to wear a wide belt, however, I do need to say that if the belt is particularly attention grabbing (metallic, large buckles etc.) to take good stock of the other accessories you are wearing and edit down if necessary so as not to draw attention away from your fabulous waist adornment. I saw a pic today of a girl in (no lie) a black sequined waistcoat, shiny gold waist belt and magenta snakeskin shoulder bag, along with varied jewelry! Don't be this girl!!

I put together a little slideshow showcasing some of the handmade jewelry and accessories from the shows. Enjoy!




All pics courtesy Triniscene

TT Trendspotting: White

(Oh yes...I still have more to talk about!)

We have come to view bright vibrant colours as synonymous with a Caribbean lifestyle. However, many designers used white silhouettes to illustrate their point of view at TT Fashion Week. While some designers used white palettes to showcase colourful accessories, others, like Kimya Glasgow, used the absence of colour to frame their entire collection.

I have always been a believer that this non-hue (which showed up on the runways in casual wear, swimwear, menswear and evening wear) is flattering to every skintone, attracting light and highlighting our gorgeous Caribbean features. My personal favourites were the following look from Kimya Glasgow and the white dress from The Cloth above.




Check out the rest in the slideshow below.




All pictures courtesy Triniscene.

TT Trendspotting: Jumpsuits

Ok, if you hadn't yet noticed...I love a jumpsuit. I know they aren't for everybody, but I own many in a variety of shapes, lengths, colours and styles. I even have a home clothes jumpsuit! So you can imagine my EXCITEMENT at seeing how pervasive jumpsuits of all shapes, lengths, colours and styles were in the TT designers fashion week collections. Some, like St. Vincent designer Kimya Glasgow's impeccable white strapless romper above, were actually much cuter and much more flattering than a lot of those that I have seen in the States! I saw not one dhoti pants jumpsuit (however, to be clear, there were many dhoti pants!). Others were a little questionable in cut and fit (for example, the odd bunching at the crotch of the Zadd & Eastman multicolour balloon romper...hmmm reverse cameltoe is never a look....)

Here they are!


All pics courtesy Triniscene

Casual Wear @ FWTT: Not jus a baby tee and jeans!

I have a personal belief, that because we in the Caribbean grow up wearing uniforms every day, this really shapes our attitude towards clothes in our adulthood. I doh know bout you, but when I was a kid I had school uniform, home clothes and party clothes (my personal fave! Who didn't love the opportunity to put on a patterned waistcoat and matching cuffed short pants an roll up in somebody 3-6pm birthday party!). Somehow, however, this culture of dressing has transmitted into my adulthood. My clothes fall into three main categories: what I wear to work, what I wear at home and what I go out in. When I buy new clothes they are almost always going out clothes because I cannot wrap my head around the idea of buying clothes for no occasion really.

When I do need to pull out an outfit to wear to a house lime, to the movies, or even just to the grocery store or errand running, I often find that I have nothing between holey big jerseys and dresses covered in sequins (ok maybe thats an exaggeration, but you get my point!) I find in my observations when I am at home that young Caribbean women seem to find themselves in this situation a lot and just pull on a baby tee and a pair of jeans for these occasions.

I was so excited to see new casual wear options emerging on the Fashion Week runways, especially from trusted and established brands like Radical Designs (I would wear those t-shirt dresses with the prints ANYWHERE...really). There were many items made in comfortable cotton jersey with trendy details like the large boatnecks and ombre colours in Meiling's MSquared line and how refreshing was it to see an actual pair of JEANS on the runway from Earth Member for Life!!! Some designers went a little further to show that the casual could also be classy and elegant with loose, flowing daytime looks in longer lengths and more sumptuous fabrics, such as this dress by Zadd and Eastman.



Styling these casual looks with a variety of tried and true everyday items like flip flops and tote bags really showed that the designers wanted their clothes to be part of the Caribbean woman's every day. Very nice!!

More in the slideshow below:



All pics courtesy Triniscene

Collection Review: Pilar by Anya Ayoung Chee

On Fashion Week Sunday, former Miss T&T Universe (actually she's probably still current Miss T&T Universe as I hear we not sending up nobody this year....) Anya Ayoung Chee debuted her collection, Pilar. To say that this collection had some of the hottest buzz for the whole fashion week event would be an understatement. And designer was not the only hat Anya donned for the event! Not only was the public's eyes peeled for things to criticize in her collection, her new modeling and talent agency Fuse The Agency, had screened and selected all the Fashion Week models! Pressha!

Despite these stressful factors, I was pleasantly impressed with Anya's showing, especially considering that this her first time out the gate! My main comment was that the collection "looked like Anya", which can be good and bad. Anya has a distinctive personal style and it definitely came through in the wearable and cohesive collection, but if one were to purchase an item from her collection would one lose a feeling of individuality, because you look so much like someone else? Hmmm....

Regardless, I love the way she brought together disparate cultural elements to create her looks. Dashiki-style shirts in African print fabric were belted at the waist with Japanese style obi belts adorned with rope and paired with shorttt (saw a good bit of boomsie cheek on the runway) pants in vibrant colours, which as we all know well, always have an appeal with Caribbean women. I love how Anya included a variety of garments in the collection: dresses, shirts, shorts, and even a bright yellow jacket showing the audience that she has the potential to vary her designs and not stick to just one thing! The collection was also replete with jumpsuits: short and long (with skinny tapered legs). Anya also provides options for those of us ladies who prefer more modest fits and cuts, with full length, high-waisted skirts and maxi dresses all of which fit the models exceptionally well. (I guess running the agency has it's benefits ;) )

My favourite pieces, however, have to be the jumpsuits, particulary the strapless one that opened the show in metallic African print! I'm so excited to see fashion I actually would want to wear on the Caribbean runways (this is a first for me) and as soon as I find out where Anya will be selling her items, my name will be on the list for one of these!


Enjoy the rest in the slideshow below:



(all pics courtesy www.triniscene.com)

BTW: Congrats Sandhurst!

Evening Wear at FWTT: Not Your Every Day Grad Dress...

Some truly spectacular gowns were shown at this year's event. While Claudia Pegus and Zadd and Eastman chose sleek silhouettes, others, like Peter Elias presented full skirted confections which the models made into shows of their own (I am convinced the young lady above has a side hustle as a Belle Dancer!)

My personal prize however goes to Kuumba Design's light lime green evening gown below:

The construction of the corset-type bodice is supremely innovative while the neckline and horizontal and vertical pleating are structurally fascinating. I love that it blossoms into this fairy-tale like full skirt as well. While I love the unexpected color of this dress, I can so see this as a wedding dress in an off-white or ivory!

Feast your eyes on the rest below (you can click any image for a larger view):
(pics courtesy www.triniscene.com)

Great Article on Fashion Week TT!!

So I'm obviously still trolling the internet for as much Fashion Week information as I can possibly find (I am determined to recreate the experience vicariously). I came across one article in particular that made me feel as if I was in the Hyatt myself, hating on the models with everybody else (j/k...kinda). I contacted the journalist, Hannah Greenidge, whose articles have been published in some of the Trinidad's most popular daily periodicals, to request the unedited version of the article to post to SUTS. Look out for more of her work soon in the hottest Caribbean fashion and lifestyle periodicals.

FWTT - The Opening Night

The Hyatt Regency Trinidad was abuzz with fashion action recently, as local and regional designers made a statement through their ingenuity. The event was Fashion Week Trinidad and Tobago, and it was held from May 29 - June 2, 2009. The message conveyed through the artistry of these designers was that the fashion of our region is a force to be reckoned with and our designers are stepping forth boldly to take our Caribbean face to the world, with concern for the environment at the same time. One of the most pleasing aspects of the lines presented was every designer's unapologetic attitude towards being Caribbean. There was no apology for our colours, our shapes and our vibe, bearing in mind that all of these entities are open to each designer's unique interpretation.


The main team of organizers for the event included Dianne Hunte of Radical Designs, Richard Young, Rosemary Stone and Maria Farrell. On Friday May 29th, Fashion Week opened with the runway set on fire. Some of the sponsors on board had booths set up at the event. The companies represented were b mobile, UTT (the Fashion Design Programme), TRESemme and Optique eyewear. Each night, the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt came alive with a theme that tied into the main concept of 'Live Green'. The opening night was titled 'Breaking Ground'. The design houses featured that night included Heather Jones Designs Limited featuring Quel Que Chose by Reggie Matthews, DLR 'D' by Dominique La Roche, Fariiworld by Richard Hope, Michael's Vogue Designs by Michael Raghunanan, Sonia Mack, Millhouse Menswear by Gregory and Coline Mills, Brown Sugar by Judith Rawlins and CPFS (Claudia Pegus Frederick Street).

All of the collections were spectacular with some key pieces blowing away the audience such as Sonia Mack's wedding gown worn by former Miss World contestant Gabrielle Walcott. The dress gave a complimenting close fit on the top and a grand skirt at the bottom with the material overlapping in U-shapes delivering a fairy tale feel.



In terms of presentation, kudos must be given to Millhouse Menswear and CPFS. The Millhouse collection for 2009 was named 'Southern Comfort'. There was immediate presence as the first model emerged. The models came out with a slow crawl to the timeless sound of James Brown's 'It's a Man's World'. For those guys who are still skeptical about the slim fit style of pants, I recommend that you consult Millhouse Menswear to see how it's done. The designers used locally sourced wools, dupioni silks and Sea Island cotton in mainly black and white to dress the Caribbean man. In speaking with Coline Mills after the show she described the line as depicting the Mavericks of today forging ahead, despite the economic climate, the Caribbean man has a drive to move forward. Troy Seetai, one of the models in the show, remarked that he had the most fun with the Millhouse collection. He felt as though the music, the clothes, everything was perfectly in sync.


Designer Claudia Pegus debuted her collection 'Trapped' with a dramatic entrance onto the runway. To that catchy tune 'That's Not My Name' by 'The Ting Tings', models stepped out wearing elaborate gold masks. This was Claudia's ready to wear presentation for Fashion Week and there were some very interesting shapes and cuts. In particular, a funky snakeskin jacket and tube top, made for only those who could handle it. One could not help but notice the dominance of strings in the collection. In speaking with the designer after the show, she explained that inspiration came from her personal experiences this year and the trapped feeling that crime in our country has placed on the people. Nigel Celestine handled the production of Claudia's presentation.


For every night of Fashion Week there was a full house. There were many local supporters as well as curious foreigners. Against the bright green b mobile backdrop I spotted America's Next Top Model Cycle 11 winner, McKey. With her captivating height she was hard to miss as she posed for pictures in a beautiful blue design by Heather Jones. I was given an opportunity to speak with the international model who said that she was thoroughly enjoying Trinidad. With her soft, pleasant smile she exclaimed that she loved the weather and she admired the cool, relaxed vibe of the Caribbean models in the show who were able to keep a professional composure even in the height of anxiety backstage. This was her first time visiting Trinidad and she came with her mom to be a part of the Trinidad Fashion Week experience. She noted that there were designs from the show that could make a solid mark on the international Fashion stage.

Local support included former Tourism Minister Howard Chin Lee, our West Indies Cricket Star Brian Lara and former Government Minister Joan Yuille Williams. Also present was Gary Hunt Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs. As he was exiting the ballroom, I asked him what he thought about the show and his response was what I think to be the best summation of the opening night: "We are evolving."

Collection Review - Meiling feat. Anthony Reid

Can I just say that I love this collection.

To use a played out phrase....talk bout grown and sexy! This was the perfect collection for that young woman trying to figure out how to structure her look to be sexy, current, but still be taken seriously! Not only were the pieces uniquely wearable, each look contained some sort of detail which captured visual interest. A couple of these details were problematic (I had to stare at the pic of the coral blazer for a really long time to realize that the hem had been sewn in that ruffle/fold and this wasn't some static-cling related wardrobe malfunction) most of them were flattering and came off effortlessly. However, most of them came off beautifully. I love the architectural folds at the necklines, dramatic open backs, and the ruffles at the hems of sleeves, tops and skirts (particularly the ruffles found at the hem of the back of one of the skirts, an interesting take on a bustle a feature I am seeing becoming popular in international designs, and obviously meant to be worn on a woman with no bottom!). I also really liked the asymmetrical cut hemlines with contrasting fabric colours peeking out from below complete with raw edges. It may not be everybody's style, but SOOO interesting.

AND THE FABRIC! Omg, I love that diaphanous almost see-through look of the pieces. And the items made in that dyed fabric that looks like a classy take on a hybrid of tie-dye and tea staining! LOVEEEE IT!!!

The menswear by Anthony Reid was also really impressive! The colours and fabrics fit easily in with the womenswear looks and were also totally wearable and current in light comfortable fabrics that look perfect for the Caribbean climate!

But my absolute number one favourite thing in this whole presentation had to be this right here:


I would wear a top with a back like this today! Like seriously please I want one. And I love the backwards placement of the chain. Omg, I just die...

Check out the front of this look, and some of my other faves from the Meiling Collection in the slideshow below.




pics courtesy Triniscene & Caribbean Fashion Style Journal

Collection Review: Sonia Mack

Quick note about my collection reviews:

I don't believe that because a designer is established and well known that they shouldn't be criticized. Without criticism there is complacency. Without criticism no one can strive for excellence.

Here we go.

So if I were a Project Runway judge I would definitely be Michael Kors. His observations are always linked to some sort of reference which can range from the simple and cutting (e.g. "That was so Paris Hooker 50s") to really really mean (e.g. "She looks like Barefoot Appalachian Lil' Abner Barbie!"). Similarly, as soon as I see a look on the runway I try to make a connection as to what type of woman I can see wearing the ensemble. Such referencing is not always complimentary. (Btw, Project Runway is moving to Lifetime this year so all the Trini Fashionistas who were not able to see it when it was on Bravo can now be exposed to the fabulousness).

Sonia Mack is one of the designers who I believe was overzealous. First of all this is like 4 or 5 collections in one. In fact I thought it was four separate collections, and given to exaggerating, when I realized it was all one collection at first perceived it to be like 80 looks (more like 30 lol). Let's discuss some of these mini collections in detail:

The long handkerchief hemlines, and large face obscuring headpieces called to mind only one client for these looks in Sonia Mack's collection: sexy La Diablesse! I almost expected to see a cloven hoof emerge from beneath the skirts of the models and could imagine the stage manager screaming at them as they came on to the stage: "REMEMBER GIRLS, LIMP! LIMP!" If I were a man in the audience I would have been running to the bathroom fas fas to turn my clothes inside out!

Further, I understand experimenting with different textures and fabrics but I am totally confused by using textures that obscure the customer's figure and overtake the body like some sort of weird algae. Further, the curly tendrils that spring from many of her pieces look like they belong on the last choice costume in a sold out Carnival Band! I know Sonia Mack is a renowned costume designer as well but is this really the arena for you to show off that skill? Or do you really believe that Caribbean women should be dressing with an element of mas every day?

As for this, I can only imagine this is what Tan Tan (a woman renowned for her predeliction for curly elements on an outfit) might select to wear to Saga Boy's funeral.

And then realizing her new single status, she would then strip down to this sexy little number:

You go Tan Tan! An good man is hard to find!

And then when she finally does find her new 18 foot love, Ms. Mack has also provided a bridal look for dear Tan Tan!



But at least I can figure out clients for those looks (as fictional as they might be). Some of the other pieces of the collection just confuse me. The crocheted fringe evening wear/lingerie??? The champagne coloured satin suit that puckered at the seams? The fuchsia corset and miniskirt that found a place smack dab in the middle of a few East Indian inspired garments????? (Actually this doesn't confuse me as much. She obviously had some material left over and didn't want it to waste.) And a better question: How do these pieces relate to each other??

Honestly I think Ms. Mack needed to have decided what she wanted to make for fashion week: costumes or garments. (And then asked herself where on earth these garments were meant to be worn?) She landed somewhere squarely in between and the results were not impressive.

pics courtesy www.triniscene.com

Fashion Week Friday: What I Liked

Heather Jones' military inspired blazer - LOVE IT!

So last Friday was the opening night of TT Fashion Week and as I wasn't there I really can't comment on the location, venue, crowd, food or drinks. (I'm still sour.)

Pictures gone up tho, so I can comment on my favourite part of a fashion show, the fashion.

The designers chosen to show this night for the theme "Breaking Ground" were a mix of newcomers as well as seasoned professionals. They were, in order of presentation: Heather Jones Designs Ltd, DLR 'D', Faraii, Michael's Vogue Designs, Sonia Mack, Millhouse Menswear, Brown Sugar and CPFS (Claudia Pegus Frederick St).

Immediately some issues with the collections jumped out at me. I will do an overall post later on after I have seen all the collections, detailing each of these but I just wanted to go over them quickly here. If Caribbean Fashion is ever to reach the levels of the New Yorks, Parises and Milans, criticism should be necessary and accepted.

That being said:

1. Wearability: I understand that not everyone wants to make fashion for every Tara, Dana and Harriet to wear on the street. However from looking at these fashion shows I had a very hard time distinguishing who was designing haute couture, who was designing ready to wear, who was designing Carnival costumes, and who just wanted to show off what they could do with fabric (resemblance to actual clothes being minimal).

2. Cohesiveness: I feel like a Fashion Show should be just that, a show. As such there should be an underlying theme or at least a connectivity between each of the pieces so that we can understand the designer's point of view. A couple of the collections on the first night looked as if they could not decide what woman they were designing for.

3. Overzealousness: which leads to problems in finishing and fit. A fashion collection does not have to be 45 looks! However, if it is, each of those 45 looks need to be finished BEAUTIFULLY and fitted perfectly on the model otherwise it just looks like crap! (yeah, I said it!) So if you don't have time to do 45 looks, properly steam your items, press your seams and hems so that they don't pucker (this also has a lot to do with fabric choice) or fit to your models, stick to 12 and make them IMPECCABLE! If I could pick out these flaws in the pics, I really can't imagine what some of these pieces must have looked like on the runway. And if you insist on doing long sleeved swimwear, let's not make that sleeve so baggy that it might drown a swimmer in distress when waterlogged!

4. Fabric Choice: Cheap fabric looks cheap. Talk dun.

5. Editing: Not every element you envisioned on your garment needs to end up on the final piece. Really, a burnout velvet print pajama suit with marabou feather trim? Honestly? Also I think this is important in the styling of the models as well as the sewing of the garments. Many of the accessories used either annoyed me or completely confused me For example, look at how this large coloured scarf obscures the workmanship on this dress bodice. And you going to couple that with a pallet stick headpiece? Its a wonder anyone looked at your garment at all!!

OH AND DONT GET ME STARTED ON THIS!

Oh...but this was supposed to be a post about what I liked right?



That being said, I feel like certain designers really know their client and their customer and you could just see exactly who their designs were meant to be for. Heather Jones was one of these with her signature hand painted floral motifs, and vibrantly coloured rich fabrics. Usually I am not attracted to this kind of fashion for myself but I was most excited to see some more modern elements brought into the pieces (and by that I do not mean the shutter shades that the male models were wearing....I really don't believe fashion designers should be biting the coattails of already played out trends in their presentations). Can somebody tell Madame Jones that I would like to order this here jumpsuit toute suite! (And one in white too please thanx). Also the sunshine yellow military jacket above is fabulous and impeccably styled (although I can't help but wish there was a lil hand painted scarf tied around the model's neck....hmm maybe its a lil too Bwee tho...ok forget I said anything).

I also enjoyed seeing the younger, unknown designers trying something new. This look from Michael's Vogue Designs really had nothing else to do with any of the other pieces in the collection and could have used some serious editing (read no furry collar or cuffs) but I'm loving how he is experimenting with layering and we can see from the outfit that this is a designer who can make jackets, vests, pants and blouses. (He also is the dude who makes marabou feather pajama suits...again EDITING).

I loved the two monochromatic looks in the collection by Brown Sugar. Again they fit in nowhere with the bright coloured satin dresses that dominated this show (cohesiveness people, oh and finishing too! Satin will show all flaws!) but I liked that they demonstrated that they could take a geometric fabric such as this one and do something really funky then something equally simple and classic and pull off both looks. Thumbs up newcomers!

Obviously, all pics courtesy www.triniscene.com

Compare and Contrast...

Compare and Contrast this look by DLR 'D' at Friday Night's TT Fashion Week Show with the Louis Vuitton (straight off the runway looks) rocked by fashionistas Rihanna and Kerri Washington. Note the similarities (iridescent metallic bustier top/ voluminous, structured skirt) and the differences (colour, length, random tie-dye lining or lack thereof).

I honestly think this is an innocent coincidence. And hey, if you're going to channel somebody's influence in the design process it might as well be Mr. Marc Jacobs right? ;)


pics courtesy www.triniscene.com and www.theybf.com

Consider yourself invited: Launch!

Remember we were the first to give you a sneak peek to the newest online shopping resource for dudes: Kultured Clothing?


Please consider yourself invited to the launch of the website next Wednesday at Drink! Wine Bar (see invi below for more details). RSVP by June 5th to info@socialitentt.com or to info@kulturedclothing.com, mention you saw the invite on SUTS and watch the velvet rope be raised for you!


Enjoy!

To all Male Attention Whores :)

I think the Real Housewives of NY's Alex Van Kempen is accepting an award here at this charity event? Who can tell tho when her husband, Simon, is DEFINITELY wearing a patent pleather outfit in size extra smedium! (picture courtesy www.bravotv.com)

Last week I attended a female friend's birthday party. Eager as I was to wish her many more years of health and success I could not easily get through my greeting as I kept getting distracted by some irritating reflections of light dancing across her face. How upset was I when I located the source: the embellishments on her boyfriend's t-shirt! To make matters worse, when I pulled back I noticed he had paired this T-shirt with a blazer made out of a fabric that certainly, had a freak fire broken out at the club, would have given him the ability to stride through the flames to safety, completely unscathed, like some sort of mutant!

Dudes, I realize it has become trendy to be flashier with your clothes, and please do not think I am hating. I understand that you too must want to assert your sartorial individuality and it does not take very long to realize that chartreuse, or iridescent fuchsia catch the attention much faster than gray or army green.

My problem is this: Do you really need to be this flashy on a day which is supposed to be totally about your girl? Ladies, let's face it, no matter how hot you looking, it's really hard to draw attention to yourself when you are standing next to a man who looks like he resurrected his Original Bedazzler, to adorn his jeans! So I can't help but believe that if a man wears an outfit this flashy on an occasion like his girlfriend's birthday, then he really prefers all the attention to be on him, and she, therefore, like that braided leather cuff on his wrist, becomes no more than an accessory to accent what he is wearing.

I imagine that these are the same men who parade around on Carnival Tuesday with airbrushed abs to accentuate what they have (or camouflage what they don't)! For Carnival 2009 one dude went a step further and airbrushed a full bald eagle on his back/chest (can't remember which, hell it may have been both!) I remember thinking....dude, how EARLY did u have to wake up this morning?! Furthermore, it took me some time to realize that he was chipping down the road next to a much less airbrushed, and hence attention grabbing, female companion!!

DUDE! You have every other day of the year to flash and floss! Gisshe (yes, gisshe) a chance today nah. If you keep up with this pattern what will be next? A gold lamé suit on her graduation day? Or perhaps will she stand at the altar in predictable white while the entire congregation's eyes are on you as you blushingly walk up the aisle wearing a waistcoat made of silver sequins?

NO. Let's stop this nonsense at once!

So, next year, when babes' birthday night is upon you, how bout you do just a bit of careful editing. Instead of your outfit involving zippers and buckles and studs, how bout we stick to just one. Maybe that fluorescent t-shirt could be exchanged for something a tad more sedate. And when reaching for that white leather belt with the diamante skull shaped belt buckle....how bout you jus NOT!

On night's like that birthday party I celebrate being single in this day and age. At least ain't nobody stealing my shine! ;)

Beach House...the Aftermath

Madame Socialite has posted her Beach House Review at Welcome To Triniwood! She talks about her fave looks and her...least faves.

I won't spoil the surprises.

Just click the link.

EXCLUSIVE: TT Fashion Week Tidbits!

So one of my friends went to buy tickets for this weekend's events and was not only fortunate enough to meet Madame Fashion Week herself, Radical Design's Diane Hunte, but also to discuss with her as yet unknown juicy tidbits of Fashion Week Gossip.

In their own words:

Sooooo, there I was in DH Gift acquiring some tickets for the Opening Night when I meet one of my friends and I was helping them decide on which night to go to. I was giving them a run down on each and the most popular designers when Ms. D. Hunt (the woman behind FW) walks in and overhears me and then introduces herself to me.

Apparently, she was very impressed on my semi-knowledge of the local designers....lol. We chatted a bit and I asked her for some info "scoop" on FW.

It goes as follows....

General Info.

Opening Night Tickets (Friday) - $250 - cocktails & finger food
Other Nights - $100
Closing Night (Tuesday) - $100
No Photography...flash or camera phone (all photographers must be accredited)

Start Time - 7 (= trini time...which means late...lol)

Opening night promises to be a fab. night as there will be cocktails and finger foods for patrons to have before and after the fashion show. The who's who going to be here dressed to the nines....

Other nights to watch out for are Sunday and Monday where Mr. HD launches his children line called, "Boy Boy"...he may even do a lil' performance too.

Tuesday which is the closing night is going to be just as great as they supposedly take it out on the new waterfront to close off FW.

Expect designers to bring out new and fresh lines and a few "over the edge" designs, as we deal with the style craze that is sweeping Trinidad and Tobago. She also mentioned they may even have an after party on the opening/closing night but it hasn't been 100% confirmed.

Wow Trinis know how to throw an event boy! Waterfront finales? After parties? And of course no event is complete without a performance by the HD himself. I had suspected when I saw the name "Boy Boy" on the presentation schedule that Machel may have something to do with it (otherwise a lawsuit on his hands). Anyway fashion week is shaping up to be quite an event so far! Will you be there?

Also click here to read the official press release for the event.

Extras:

Excuse me? Come Again? What do u mean ASSLESS tights?

Event Planning - Beach House May 24th

Every year fashion's most gifted designers produce a Resort Collection, a group of looks designed for the well-to-do jet-setter who flies away on a whim to the most exotic of destinations. Will it be Morocco this week to have a fabulous spa experience at the hammam? Or perhaps to Monaco to throw down some cash at the tables in Monte Carlo?

However, it seems to us that whenever tourists grace our shores they are always garbed in the same uniform (so wham? Because iz not the French Riviera dey cyah dress up a lil bit?)

• wide brim hat (perhaps covering a fresh blonde beaded cane row that some beach hairdresser in the previous port of call ripped them off for)
• Hawaiian print shirt (seemingly obscuring an impressive bright red t-shirt tan that SPF 50 is not doing much to prevent)
• khaki cargo shorts
• tall socks (WHY??!! WHY??!!)
• the most rubbery, orthopedic looking pair of sandals money can buy

I often wonder if when they arrive, they aren't filled with shock that the locals wear (gasp!) jeans and t-shirts and aren't immediately overcome with embarassment by the inappropriateness of their attire.

Anyway, I digress.

I believe that some day soon holidaymakers are going to reclaim the days of dressing like you were 'going somewhere' and hit the Caribbean looking most fabulous and I think we should be one step ahead of them so that when they reach we shame them. We are blessed to live in a region with vacation conditions all year round. No closing of outdoor locations in September; no sky-high summer gas prices. we should dress to celebrate the fact that we are so fabulous that other ppl feel that they have to dress a certain way just to visit us!

So in preparation for Beach House in Blanchisseuse this Sunday, let us take a page from those designers who use our locales as inspiration. Instead of just reaching for the bright coloured dress and metallic sandal combo that has become the reflex go-to outfit for these events, let us embrace the theme: destination. (Btw I love theme outfits. It's really gratifying when someone picks it up and you can be like that's exactly what I was going for!)

Destination 1: Cruise

Nautical items are so common in fashion that somebody told me its considered more a theme than a trend (take a look at Jourdan Dunn on the runway for Chanel Resort 2010). The look is characterized by red, navy blue and white often with stripes. The trick, however, is to not end up looking like a fancy sailor in an old Gayelle Carnival re-broadcast from 1966!

Take a look at my suggestions below. The theme is very versatile. You can do long wide legged, pants, short dresses, and long or short jumpsuits in fabrics like dark denim or white linen. For Beach House Carnival in February, my friend wore a widelegged, strapless, button-up white linen jumpsuit that was gorgeous. When I asked her where she got it, she told me her tailor had made it. CARIBBEAN WOMEN, do not forget that your tailor (especially if you have found a good one) is one of the most powerful weapons in your fashion aresenal! All you need is a picture and some patience to achieve any look in any magazine and set yourself apart from the three girls who went to three different stores and all end up in the same party in the same top!



Destination 2: Eastern Inspired

So because of the success of Slumdog Millionaire last year Indian influence is going to be a big trend. You can see it in pop culture like the Pussycat Doll's video for Jai Ho and the designers have already begun to incorporate this trend into their runway looks. Even the Trinidadian Carnival bands are picking up on the trend with themes such as "The Silk Road", "The Spice Road" and "Kuchela" slated for February 2010.

We in Trinidad are blessed to live in a country of diverse cultures. Use this to your advantage ladies. Venture into the Indian stores (which sell a wide variety of fabulous things from clothing to home decor) and find something innovative. I am not suggesting that you walk into Beach House in a sari, however create a fresh take on traditional garb by combining pieces with contemporary items. When shopping for dresses use the inspiration from East Indian fabrics, such as metallic embroidery, rich colours and vibrant prints. Also, if you want to stick to something more traditional like a simple solid dress, channel the Eastern influence in jewelry and accessories, multiple bangles or jewelled sandals will dress up any outfit. I particularly like these ring-bracelet combos from Plum Flower Creations by Meiling Bansee.

Btw I kind of went overboard with the lookbook on this one but there were just so many gorgeous items both low and high end. Some of the dresses may be a bit dressy but I loved them anyway! I hope you enjoy!

SUTS True Shopping Story: Denim in Distress

I have never been a fan of spending money on new clothes that look like they have been passed down through a family for generations or like they were the victim of a freak washing machine disaster. I despise shirts in stores like Abercrombie and Hollister with their "fashionable" holes in the collar and fraying hemlines and their obscene prices. I have never worn a pair of ripped jeans...until yesterday.

You must have noticed by now that the hottest denim trend is light denim destroyed in one of a variety of ways, be it rips in the knees, paint splatters, bleaching, or sometimes, oddly enough, tie dyeing. the style has been seen on a range of celebrities (e.g. Lala and bff Kim Kardashian) Unfortunately, some designers seem to get a little too happy with the razor blade and we end up with what I like to call fringe jeans which are about 2/3 less than a full pair of jeans in my consideration. See Taylor Momsen:

Anyway, I digress.

Now this is a very trendy trend. By that I mean the shelf life is very short and as such should be bought at a low low price despite what the good people at Balmain seem to think. So in order to try my hand at this trend I ventured to one of my favourite disposable clothing establishments. I was excited to find denim in a wide range of distress. Like the examples below, the jeans ranged from mildly-stuck-in-an-elevator-for-7-minutes-distressed (read a darker wash denim with minimal small holes in the thigh) to utter-oh-my-god-why-did-these-oxygen-masks-jus-drop-down-in-the-middle-of-my-transatlantic-flight-distress (read light acid wash denim complete with ripping throughout, bleaching and paint splatters). I opted for moderate distress, a very light denim wash with horizontal rips in the thigh and knee.

I should have known things were not going to go well when the first thing I proceeded to do was insert mih big toe straight into one of the holes in the jeans as I tried them on.

After I finished laughing at myself, I surveyed myself in the mirror. Hmm, not bad. Unfortunately my work blouse was kinda killin the funkiness so I headed back to the racks to find a top to try the jeans on with.

Steups. Why could I not find a damn ting?

Red flags started going off in my head. Obviously if out of all the cute trendy tops on the sales floor I could find nothing to pair the jeans with, when faced with the options in my much more limited cloest there would be even less. I am notorious for my impluse buys which end up languishing in the bottom of my 'new clothes bag' for months (sometimes years as was the fate of the moss green glittery crochet halter top) never having any partner to be paired with because it really doesn't fit in with my personal style, no matter how cute it looked on the mannequin. I didn't want this to happen to the skinny distressed jeans.

I liked them. I didn't love them. So I left them.

I may revisit them in future, who knows. However I don't want to discourage you from trying these funky jeans. Look through these options (I tried to arrange them in order of distress and devastation). Which do you prefer?



Tidbits:
1. Review of the MSquared collection!

2. Kanye praises paparazzi photojournalism!

3. Ghetto clip of a hot video.

Love at First Site

I love cheap clothes. No, forget that. I love inexpensive clothes. There will come a time when my wardrobe is full of classy "investment pieces" that are going to last me a lifetime like uh i doh know ... a proper business suit, perhaps. However, that time is not now. Now is the age of quantity over quality (for me at least) and I would rather buy 10 things for $100 and wear each of them once than buy one thing for $100 and it be the ONLY thing I wear.

However much like the dudes who dress rhel fly but whose idea of a romantic dinner involves a Zinger, just because something is cheap doesn't mean it should have to look cheap. That's why when I shop in certain stores, I will trawl the racks for hours searching for the tops made out of the richer, woven materials as opposed to the knit jerseys or spandexes. I look for more sophisticated cuts (for example I refuse to wear any item that has ruching on it). Don't misunderstand me, nothing is wrong with these items but when these high volume stores sell them to every single woman worldwide between the ages of 15 and 30, you want to separate yourself somehow. The way I choose to do it is through fabrication.

Finally Forever 21 gets it.

Their new line, Love 21, introduced online and in select stores on Tuesday, takes cut and fabrication into consideration resulting in a much more sophisticated aesthetic than the many brightly coloured embellished neck tunic topics that have become its hallmark. Lengths may be longer, fits may be "more modest" and necklines may be a tad higher, but face it ladies, we get older every day and the earlier we start accepting it the quicker we can look fly at any age!

Recently my father looked at me as I left the house and commented, "You have plenty of dem lil jersey dresses boy." Shame. We all do. But man shouldn't be noticing them tings. The fabrics used in the Love 21 collection, while succumbing to the occasional cotton jersey usage, are more often silks, satins and chiffons.

The best thing about Love 21 though, has to be the prices. I thought that the items would be priced higher than the regular pieces but still "affordable" by fashion magazine standards (i.e. $25-$50 each), similar to their Twelve by Twelve line. I was happily mistaken. On the exact same pricing level as regular F21 (around $17-$30 each) these prices do not disappoint.

Ladies, just be aware when purchasing online. The fits are indeed more modest, so check out the sizing chart before making your orders. You can view the lookbook here, and also check out the selection of items to which new pieces are being added every day! Take a look at my faves!

UPDATED: Trini Fashion Week

So a buddy let me know that the TT Fashion Week Website is now updated with this year's schedule of events and designers. This year there is a new location (where else?) the Hyatt Regency.

More interesting than that, however, is the SEXY photo teasers that have been posted on the Caribbean Fashion Week Fan Page on Facebook!

Behold the haughtness!



The creativity of our Caribbean people awes and humbles me EVERY time!

And I'm loving the buzz they're trying to build for it in the teaser below:



I can just see the Trini Fashionistas sneaking in like at the Bryant Park tents! I am particularly interested in the exhibitions, workshops and showrooms taking orders. Obviously if you want to be involved in fashion (or *cough, cough* beauty) in Trinidad this is the place to be! And where will I be??? Steuuuuppsss...

LOVING it regardless!

Platformers - more than meets the eye!

I'm so excited to introduce to you guest blogger Socialite who just had to put in her two cents about her favourite shoe trend. Enjoy!

SO!

Let’s talk about these fab platforms that are out and about the place with a vengeance. Yeahhhhh Yeahhhhh we’ve heard the warnings from the back doctors n such, but lets face it they rock our worlds and beyond.

Seriously have you seen a woman’s calves in these things, FIERCE! Think about it (I mean even VS did with their flippy flop work out shoe thingie) these things give you an unbelievable leg workout; it’s like going to the gym without a gym AND in amazing shoes… We all win!

pics courtesy www.theybf.com

Amazing with skirts and the UBER fab skinny jeans (**Cough… white is the new colour of choice** cough), these shoes make me smile

Note from StepUp: I have compiled a lookbook of the hottest, sexiest, insanely expensive platforms for you to peruse. If you have a SERIOUS shoe fetish, this may be NSFW lol.(Notice Beyonce's look above will set you back a cool $928 USD and that's just starting at the feet! Eva Diva not backward herself with her $878.95 Zanottis! I hope she ask for her 5 cents change!) However to my Trini friends who think I am not able to do my 6 times table, fear not! Madame Socialite tells me that if you look very hard, you can find very funky fashionable platforms in Trinidad, specifically in establishment's that have the owner's pic in each store (hint, hint).

And if you hurry, you can make it there before their 50% off sale is over.

That's all I'm sayin! :)

TIDBITS:

1. Yeah, we want an answer to this question TOO, Fashion Industry.

2. Beyonce: "I don't know if I'm fashion obsessed." I get all my shit for free!